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The lower your PR[1] gets, the harder it will be to lower it even further. We humans have the problem that we only have a limited amount of time available, which means that it is not enough to invest a lot of time in studying backgammon, we also need to do it in an efficient way. So we need to find a very effective method.
After receiving my BMAB[2] title Grandmaster 1 (playing a PR below 3.0) in November 2021, I was still very ambitious to aim for the next titles such as Grandmaster 0 (PR below 2.75) and even Super Grandmaster (PR below 2.50), but I realized that this would not be so easy and indeed my PR stagnated for many months.
In September 2022, I started my collaboration with my good friend Rainer Birkle, who had just developed his Anki Method (using digital flashcards). Based on my personal position database, we created many Anki decks, each deck contained 25 positions that had a common theme (e.g. 3rd roll, Leaving the Anchor, Against Backgame, etc.).
I have to admit that while I really liked the method, at first I was a little skeptical about whether it would work for me personally. I'm so glad that I gave it a try, i.e. in the summer of 2023 I first started studying the decks we created for the general public. And a bit later I had Rainer create personal decks (usually based on mistakes I made in my matches).
And what can I say? Only a few months later, in November 2023, I received the title Grandmaster 0 and just another few months later, in April 2024, I took another important step: Super Grandmaster 3, together with Mochy I am now one of the only two Super Grandmasters in the world!
Do you want to lower your PR and are you ready to work for it? Then you should definitely try Rainer's Anki Method. There is a lot of free material to get you started.
Dirk Schiemann, April 2024
[1] PR = Performance Rating, human's playing strength measured by today's best backgammon software eXtreme Gammon
[2] BMAB = The Backgammon Masters Awarding Body
One Back Step Up
Getting your lone back checker to safe territory is usually your top priority, especially when you are leading in the race. Stepping up in your opponent’s home board gets the checker closer to home but comes with the risk of it being attacked. Whether you should expose yourself to the attack or whether you should stay back is the topic of this deck.
Hit Loose
One of the most common decisions in backgammon is whether to hit loose in your homeboard. When the play works, you can often improve your position significantly. However, by hitting loose you expose yourself at least to a direct shot. After a return hit you will lose a lot of ground in the race and your position will deteriorate. The positions of this deck should give you a feel when taking the risk is warranted and when it is not.
Against Backgame
Playing against a backgame is difficult. The positions from this deck deal with the most common problems like: “Should I hit additional checkers? Should I try to get hit in order to destroy my opponent’s timing? Should I keep my prime in front of my opponent’s anchors or should I start breaking it?”
Leaving the Anchor 1
Establishing an advanced anchor is among the top priorities in the early game. At some point in the game, however, you will have to break your anchor and try to get your checkers home. This usually involves considerable risks, and thus makes it difficult to find the right time for abandoning the anchor. The positions in this deck illustrate the factors that influence the decision.
4th roll 1
Like in the 3rd roll positions it is your second decision of the game but, unlike before, your opponent has already made two moves which generally leads to more complex decisions.
Which Point
It frequently happens that you have the choice between different important points. For example, you could either make an advanced anchor or a good inner board point. Once you have mastered the positions from this deck, you should have a good idea which factors to consider.
Prime Slot
The fastest way of extending your prime is to slot the point that you want to make and cover the blot after it gets missed. By studying the positions in this deck you can get a feel for when the risk is worth the reward.
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